Agile Cigar Reviews are cigar assessments where we use a lightweight, shorter format. These will never take the place of our comprehensive reviews. They are only used on blends we have previously assessed. This might be a blend we are re-scoring or giving a score for the first time. It might be a blend we are looking at in a different size. Today, we look at the Fratello Oro Fuoco. This is a cigar blend previously assessed back in March 2018 in the Robusto size.

Wrapper: Ecuadorian Connecticut
Binder: Cameroon
Filler: Dominican, Nicaraguan
Country of Origin: Dominican Republic
Factory: La Aurora S.A.
Fuoco: 3 1/2 x 50

The Fratello Fuoco is a series of 3 1/2 x 50 line extensions to the Fratello Classic, Fratello Bianco, and Fratello Oro lines. If that size seems familiar, it is also the same size that Fratello Cigars used for the 2017 Fratello Firecracker release. The Firecracker is a series created by 2 Guys Cigars’ owner David Garofalo where he has partnered with various manufacturers to deliver cigars in the 3 1/2 x 50 format. In 2019, the Fratello Fuoco made its debut in the European market. The company said that due to the success of the Fratello Fuoco in Europe, it made the decision to bring the Fratello Fuoco series to the U.S. market. The Fratello Fuoco was showcased at the 2021 Premium Cigar Association Trade Show. Today we take a look at one of the blends in the Fuoco Series, the Fratello Fuoco Oro.

The Fratello Oro uses an Ecuadorian Shade Grown wrapper. The Oro also features a Cameroon binder and a combination of Nicaraguan and Dominican filler. Production for the Fratello Fuoco Oro (as well as the whole Fratello Oro line) comes from the La Aurora factory in the Dominican Republic. This differs from the Fratello Classic Fuoco and Fratello Bianco Fuoco which come from the Joya de Nicaragua factory in Estelí, Nicaragua (that is where the Fratello Classic and Fratello Bianco are produced). La Aurora is the oldest cigar factory in the Dominican Republic and Joya de Nicaragua is the oldest cigar factory in Nicaragua.

Like the Fratello Firecracker, the Fratello Oro Fuoco is also a 3 1/2 x 50 vitola. The one difference is the Fuoco doesn’t have the long-fuse like Firecracker. Instead, it has a very short pigtail. Each of the three blends of the Fratello Fuoco series is presented in 30-count boxes.

The Fratello Oro Fuoco opened with notes of cream, classic wood, cedar, black pepper, and a chestnut note. As the cigar progressed through the first third, the cream and wood became primary, and a burnt berry note surfaced in the background. There was also a layer of black pepper on the retro-hale. By the second third, the cream subsided into the background, leaving the wood as the primary note. The pepper and cedar increased in intensity and the chestnut note dissipated completely. The berry notes diminished and morphed into a natural tobacco note. The final third saw the wood notes in control. In the background were the notes of pepper, natural tobacco, and cedar. The pepper was the most prominent of the background notes. There was some bitterness that came from the natural tobacco.

The flavors delivered were medium-bodied notes. The strength level started out mild to medium but progressed to medium by the second third. The body notes held an edge over the strength. As for the burn, it required minimal touch-ups to maintain a straight burn path and straight burn line. There was a touch of resistance on the draw, making it an ideal draw in my book.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT

Final Thoughts

Fratello Oro is a line that has scored very nicely in the past. In terms of the Fratello Oro Fuoco, I didn’t find it to be the best size or representation for this brand. This cigar started out impressive in the first third, and became average in the second third, while the bitterness threw it off balance in the final third. The bitterness in the end wasn’t horrible, but it still was enough to have watered down the overall cigar experience. The first two-thirds bring this cigar enough points to score a respectable 88, but in the case of the Oro line, I’m reaching for the other sizes over this one. In the end, despite an attractive $7.50 price point and the 88 point score, I’m recommending you try a sample first and decide for yourself.

Summary

Key Flavors: Wood, Cream, Cedar, Berry, Natural Tobacco Chestnut, Pepper
Burn: Excellent
Draw: Excellent
Complexity: Medium to Full
Strength: Mild to Medium (1st Third) Medium (Remainder)
Body: Medium
Finish: Excellent